Should Chiefs move on from Alex Smith after 2016?
By John McCarty
Alex Smith is due a salary in 2017 of $16.9 million and follows that up in 2018 with $20.6 million. Of the $37.5 million remaining on his contract, only $7.2 million stands as guaranteed money. So the Chiefs will not have significant salary cap ramifications if they were to move on from Alex Smith. Also, with the way contracts and numbers are flying around for quarterbacks these days in the NFL, Smith’s contract is not that out of line or a significant over pay, thus making his contract able to be moved in a trade.
Nick Foles currently has a team option of $10.75 million for the 2017 season. If the Chiefs decline the option (release him) then the Chiefs will have no dead salary cap and will likely move forward with Smith.
However, if they did want to keep Foles they could do so on a short-term contract, perhaps two or three years. This would greatly lower the cap figure for Foles this year and the quarterback position as a whole would be far cheaper in 2018. The $20.6 million cap number would be eliminated for a far lower number in a Foles extension.
If the Chiefs were to move Smith, they likely could get in return multiple draft picks, though not likely to the level of what they gave up. With a quarterback class that’s far better then what was available in 2013 (QB class was indeed awful) and the veteran QB/free agent market will be as talented as we’ve seen in some time. Tony Romo is the headliner, but multiple quarterbacks with starting experience are likely to be available. The availability in the draft and on the open market will limit the demand for Alex Smith’s services, thus limiting the return the Chiefs could get in return.